October 2nd - Gandhi Jayanthi

We celebrate 2nd October of every year as Gandhi Jayanthi, for he, the father of our nation was born on this day years ago(1869). He was a leader who followed non-violence as the method to fight against his enemies. He was a lawyer by profession, but he played a leading role in India getting independence. We all still remember him and respect him for the services rendered by him for our nation. He was a role model, who was never behind money or power, he just wanted freedom for his nation. For that he was not even ready to shed any blood of foreigners, Ahimsa was his rule. Yes, He is right, none of us have the right to take anyone's life for any reason as we are not creators. He was known as Bapuji by his followers.

Today is declared as a National holiday by our government as a respect towards him.

Mahatma Gandhi ,the father of our Nation, a fearless warrior aided with the extreme weapon of non-violence the sole reason of our Independence. He means to an Indian more than anything and thus we honour him in each and every single rupee we spend.His face, The face of truth and justice perforated on our currency note reminds us of his struggles for our freedom. Each note we spend is a symbol of his sacrifice and a reminder of the struggles. His face gives meaning and value to our wealth . Let India rise to the hopes and dreams of Gandhiji. Like Tagore sings in his Gitanjali :

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is freeWhere the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic wallsWhere words come out from the depth of truthWhere tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfectionWhere the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habitWhere the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and actionInto that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake".

This was also a dream shared by Bapu. Let our country awake into that ideal world Gandhi and Tagore dreamt of.

Another October 2nd is over, and the nation paid due respects to the 'Father of the Nation'. It is indeed a welcome thing. But during the remaining 364 days of the year nobody bothers to remember this great name. The very principles he taught the nation through his life are very comfortably forgotten.

Our Rashtra Pitha had said that when you take decision to implement a scheme just think how it is going to benefit the poorest of the poor. If he/she does not get some benefit drop the scheme. But now all projects are chosen just making the living conditions of the poor miserable. The impact of price rise itself affects badly the poor.Similarly Gandhiji always stood with 'Ahimsa' (non-violence). But at present for every little reason, violence break up here. He was against caste, religion and creed and wanted to treat everybody equally. His aim was a secular, in its correct sense, state. But now everything is decided according to religion and caste. At the time of general elections the seats are allocated according to caste ! So where is the place for our father of nation in this present nation?

By the by, this day October 2nd is the birth day of another great leader of this nation who died for bringing peace in our Nation. It is none other than Lal Bahadur Sastry, the short man who was the Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru.T.M.SankaranGold Member, SPK